Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince is the 6th movie in the HP series and comes with the baggage of measuring upto the 6th book which has a chilling climax. So when I sat down to watch the movie I was literally praying that the makers do not botch the climax. So how is the climax done...We'll come back to it later.
The plot of the movie basically tracks down Harry's 6th year @ Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The plot in the movie is more like setting up the ground pieces for the final showdown which is fast approaching. Here, Harry under the tutelage of Dumbledore is shown going through memories pertaining to Tom Riddle's early life thereby researching and analyzing the enemy. Of course, a good measure of Quidditch is thrown in along with a couple of new ingredients, beating hearts and raging hormones.
Coming to the movie, considering that darkness is just round the corner, there are liberal doses of humor which come as a welcome relief. However, as viewed later there is too much emphasis on humor. One does understand that the director tries to show there is more to life than dark wizards and prophecies but coming at the cost of important subplots, it seems frivolous, to say the least.
The memories of Dumbledore unleash the chilling introduction of Tom Riddle which is brilliantly handled as is the pre-climax cave "horcrux hunting" scene. A special mention to the racy background score during the cave sequence must be made. It as pretty amazing to view how the director brings out the vivid imagination of Rowling on the screen...the special effects are breathtaking and detailing shows through.
However, as has been the bane of earlier Potter movies, this too makes some changes in the storyline incorporating and deleting some scenes and information. Now, one does understand the need for it and it is perfectly acceptable when seemingly unimportant sidetracks are omitted or are given less screen time but what irks here is the lack of emphasis on key plots and information. Even the Harry-Ginny track which has been considerable given screen time but is yet not done well. The track is all about the gradual realization on Harry's part of his feelings for Ginny which then explode in that searing kiss after the Quidditch game...however, in the movie the charm diminishes a lot as Harry and Ginny are shown eyeing each other from the very beginning and that moment of passion is replaced by a tender peck which hardly helps.
Ron-Hermione track is handled well as is Harry's frequent run-ins with Slughorn especially the scene where Harry finally convinces Slughorn to part with the memory is beautifully done.
Coming to the climax, it is a downer.Period.
The very grain of Harry's character dictates that he rushes out when he finds his loved ones in danger. In light of this, it is an absolute travesty that the movie shows a mobile Harry watching solemnly as Dumbledore is killed. A mobile Harry would have rushed out on seeing Dumbledore cornered and reduced the odds seemingly. This shocking change in the screenplay goes about showing Harry as weak and doddering in nature which is so not him.
The whole fight in the corridors below the Astronomy Tower is deleted from the movie which results in giving the impression of Hogwarts being a soft target as Death Eaters calmly stroll in, kill the Headmaster and leave almost nonchalantly.
The omitting of Dumbledore's funeral in totality leaves one unsatiated as the sense of loss does not quite hit home and that dialogue between Harry and Ginny in the end is missing too. This inspite of the scene having all the ingredients to make a nice, heart wrenching closure sequence.
The tiara and Riddle's eye for trophies is not mentioned which is such an important piece of information in the scheme of things in the next movie.
What irks more is that all this is not omitted for the lack of time because there is a ridiculous Burrow burning scene created out of thin air which has no bearing on the plot and comes across as a cheap thrills attempt.
The acting is mostly good with special mention being made of Jim Broadbent and Alan Rickman. It is also clear that Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Thompson are blossoming into fine actors. Rupert Grint evokes the most laughs owing to his caught in a love triangle act and he pulls it off well. Also, Evanna Lynch as Luna is quirkily brilliant. Tom Felton and Bonnie Wright for once get to build their characters and they do it pretty well. Michael Gambon is good as usual.
To conclude, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince is a decent movie but the climax just ruins it completely. Watch it of course, to see the enchanting world come alive and well, just for being an HP movie. You cannot not watch it after all:)
Rating: 5/10
3 follow-ups:
So, so agree!! They just ruined the movie for me.. putting too much emphasis on stupid scenes -- esp the burrow scene... and not too much stress on the build-up to Dumbeldore's death - or even afterwards.. i was so disappointed that they deleted the part about Harry been jinxed by his headmaster and other teachers fighting the death-eater..it could have been marvellous..it just became stupid..
excellent review.. u hit at all the weaknesses :)
Novel readers wont like it definitely. Its sort of taken for granted.
So very nice..will check here to see if there are reviews of the next movie i wanna watch! :)
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